Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

Seeing Red

Chapter: 18

Clouds began to gather about in the sky as Renamon, now in her disguise, walked down the street alongside Henry and Terriermon. The long-eared digimon was eyeing the vulpine digimon's new form with curiosity. Renamon's lips curved slightly in a barely visible smile.

"You have questions," she said. Terriermon giggled.

"Do I?" he laughed. Henry sighed.

"Please, don't encourage him."

"Momentai! Don't listen to him. I know he wants to know just as much as I do."

"Terriermon…"

"You want to know why I'm hiding my tail now?" Renamon asked, indicating her back area with a nod of her head. Blushing darkly, Henry gulped, but said nothing and instead avoided the kitsune's azure eyes. Terriermon giggled again.

"I think that's answer enough for the both of us," he grinned.

"It made for a good means to get attention and keep it off Rika. As I had so much attention on me, I'd say that it worked rather well."

"Can't really argue with that," Terriermon admitted. "Especially with Kazu and Kenta and Henry here practically tripping over each other."

"Ah, speaking of Rika," Henry began, opting to steer the conversation away from himself. "Do you think she and Takato will be all right? I don't mean to pry, but Takato did look pretty upset. And Rika…" Henry frowned. "I'm not sure what to make of her."

"Well, given that it's Rika, I'd say she was upset," Terriermon said. "But she did seem a little less steamed than Takatomon."

"Terriermon…" Henry sighed.

Renamon frowned slightly, her earlier humor evaporating. As the pair had been cagey about why they needed to leave their digivices behind, she wasn't sure just how much she should tell her companions. She expressed as much to Henry, and the boy nodded in understanding.

Terriermon, on the other hand, didn't like it one bit.

"Now who's encouraging who?" he grumped. "Henry will roll over and accept it, but that did look like a pretty big deal."

"I'm sure they'll work it out," Henry said. "They care about one another a great deal after all. I don't think they're going to end their relationship over whatever happened."

"Perhaps," Renamon said uncertainly, still frowning. "Although, I feel that whatever may happen, my own role left much to be desired."

"What do you mean?" Henry asked, arching an eyebrow. Renamon shook her head again.

"It is not something I can discuss without sharing more details," she replied. "But I am ashamed. I…mistrusted Takato and his intentions concerning Rika. Admittedly, it was out of concern for my partner, but that does not excuse my first instinct about Takato." She craned her head skyward, her eyes thoughtful.

"Before today, I didn't think I would have doubted him. Despite what happened in the digital world with the creation of Megidramon, he has more than adequately proven himself."

Terriermon frowned slightly. "It'd help you know if you told us what he did or didn't do."

"Terriermon, she already said why she can't discuss it."

"I know, but we look like we're discussing it now anyway and we're in the dark about it! Also, I thought the two of you were going on a date or something! Isn't this a downer conversation to be having on one?"

Henry glanced at Renamon briefly before shrugging awkwardly.

"Part of making any relationship work involves listening to the other person when they're having trouble," he replied.

"Yeah, but she's not exactly doing any talking."

Renamon was silent for a moment before clasping Henry's hand.

"Perhaps I will," she said. Henry lifted an eyebrow.

"Heyyy… You just said that you couldn't talk about it."

Renamon cast a look over at Terriermon.

"Perhaps I will, if it's just the two of us."

The long-eared digimon huffed and folded his arms together.

"I'd say that's rude if I didn't already figure that's how it's going to be. Fine. Just drop me off at the apartment and the two of you can get going on your date."

Henry sighed and looked at his partner apologetically. "Sorry, Terriermon."

"Momentaiii!" Terriermon giggled.

###

The storm clouds grew thicker and darker as Takato and Rika made their way toward her home. They had taken a more scenic route and both of them were quiet the whole way, needing the time to gather their thoughts and feelings.

For her part, Rika couldn't help but feel a bit self-conscious. Being alone with Takato was something she was used to. However, the knowledge that the two of them had had sex, however unknowingly due to a quirk of their digivices connecting them through their growing feelings toward one another, left her more aware of herself and him in a way she hadn't been before.

I always knew that he wanted to be with me in that way, she thought, hugging one arm to herself as she went. I wanted it too. As much as I hate to admit it, we both wanted that. But I don't think I was really prepared for it actually happening. And now he's seen me… Felt me in that way…

A distant sound of rolling thunder disturbed her thoughts and she glanced over at the boy next to her. His face was still rather pale and his lips were drawn in a tight line but his eyes were focused and thinking. Well, that was good in her estimation. Better than stammering and constantly apologizing even though that was likely going through his mind.

And I do know, she told herself, her hand releasing her arm. No matter what, that's how he is. He doesn't like making me upset even by accident. I've got to let him know that what happened wasn't his fault.

Of course, she also knew telling him that fact wasn't exactly going to be convincing. Because doubling down on feeling bad was also how Takato could be at times. Rika sighed mentally and stuffed her hands in her pockets.

Why does everything have to be so complicated? she asked herself as they drew near to the gate of her home. The door was closed, an indication that her family members were both out. A good thing as far as she was concerned. If she and Takato were to have a 'quarrel' over what happened, she didn't want anyone around asking questions.

"Here we are," she said. After unlocking the door, she pushed it open with a grunt. The door swung open and the pair stepped wordlessly into her yard. She closed up behind them and leaned against the wood behind her, gathering her thoughts. Takato turned toward her questioningly.

"So, uh," he began awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "About what happened…"

"Jumping right into it, huh?" Rika said, looking up at him, her lips pressed together into a thin line.

Takato gave an awkward shrug. "Well, I know you wouldn't like to dance around this. I mean, not after everything you went through with Renamon."

Rika nodded. This was true. She and Renamon had indeed danced around their feelings for one another in the early days of their partnership and it did nothing but give them grief. In fact, she had nearly lost her because she couldn't admit that she cared about her. The same held true with Takato, though she still had faltered on that front. Fortunately, with less disastrous results.

"You know me pretty well," she said, giving him a small, if nervous smile. She watched as Takato's lips twitched, but they didn't turn up into a returning match for her. Rather, he appeared to be grimacing. Rika pushed away from the door and started toward him.

"All right. Out with it."

Becoming suddenly rigid, Takato gave her an unexpected bow that drew her up short, somewhat taken aback.

"I'm sorry."

Rika's face scrunched up, though not without sympathy and with some embarrassment as well. Seeing him bow like this felt almost wrong. She found herself looking away.

"I told you once before, don't apologize for stupid things. It was an accident and it's getting fixed."

"It's not stupid!" Takato burst out, causing Rika to look at the boy, startled. As if on que, a stroke of thunder boomed louder. Takato blanched at it, as if it were a manifestation of the monster he saw himself as. His eyes turned toward her and upon seeing her wide, surprised eyes he looked away, ashamed. "It's not. Rika, I… I hurt you. What I did. What I took from you…"

"Stop it. Just stop it, okay?" Recovering from her surprise at his outburst, Rika angrily stomped toward him and jabbed his chest with a finger, causing him to look up at her in surprise now. There came another crack of thunder, punctuating her prodding as she spoke. "You didn't mean it. You didn't even know you were doing it! Do you really want to make me upset getting all worked up about things you didn't mean or know you were doing, because I'm getting there!"

She watched Takato press his lips together tightly, clearly unhappy with the whole situation. She could imagine the heat that was pumping through his brain just as she felt it within hers. Finally, Takato gripped the sides of his head and made a frustrated growl. She planted her hands on her hips and waited.

Absently, she heard that sound of thunder again, again closer, but not so loud this time. The storm, sounded as though it were slowly letting it out, like a breath held too long. Rika considered moving this discussion inside, but she didn't want to break their momentum. Not yet.

"This is so…so…stupid," Takato said finally, looking annoyed. "I can't believe we're fighting about whether or not I should apologize."

"Oh, it's happening," Rika said, resisting the urge to tap a finger on her belt. "Besides, if you ask me, the whole thing is pretty stupid right from the start. Do I have to repeat myself about why I think you apologizing is stupid? Because you know how I hate repeating myself, Gogglehead."

"I just don't want to hurt you," Takato said, meeting her gaze levelly. "I want to do right by you. I should have thought about what might happen. I mean, you know how weird my dreams can be. Maybe if I thought about it, it wouldn't have happened!"

"Well, it did," Rika asserted. "It's not like either of us thought we were going to end up sharing a wet dream, but since it did happen, we might as well learn to live with it. Now, are you done beating yourself up about it? You're cute when you get worked up and take responsibility for things, but this is not a cute look for you right now. I want mygogglehead back. The one I fell in…in love with." She almost balked at the word 'love,' having never been comfortable with it, but she forced herself to continue without missing a beat. "I want the goofy little dork who sometimes trips over his own feet and gets flustered whenever he puts his foot in his mouth."

As more thunder boomed, closer now, Rika's hard eyes held his, searching his crimson gaze for some sign that she was getting through to him.

"The one I told I trusted with my back and I still will even if he acting like a complete doofus right now."

They held one another's gaze for a long moment before Takato took a deep breath, steadying himself. The trees in the yard began to wave slightly as the wind picked up, causing their leaves to rustle.

Nature's own windchimes, Rika thought distractedly.

"I want to be that person," Takato said finally, his voice soft. Rika's expression relented.

"So, what's the problem?" she asked. Although her tone was gentle, Takato winced.

"Don't tell me that you don't know how what I did makes me feel," he said. Reaching out, Rika took his hand. She felt him stiffen, almost pull away, but he caught himself at the last second. Their fingers wrapped around one another, holding tight. Not daring to let go.

"I think I understand plenty," she said, her thumb attempting to smooth out the worries in his fingers. "But what happened last night isn't the same thing and you know that. You're dense, but you're not stupid. You didn't mean it and you didn't even know what was happening. This…" She blushed, struggling to say the next words. "This is more like a condom breaking and we didn't know it until after the fact." She gave him a harsh look as he stared at her in surprise. "Knock it off with the stupid expression, Gogglehead. I'm trying to make a comparison here."

"Sorry. It's just…" Takato suddenly barked a harsh laugh, as if at some absurdity. "I guess I never thought I'd hear you say something like that." He cleared his throat, blushing awkwardly.

"There's been a lot of things I didn't think I'd end up saying since we got together," Rika admitted with a harsh, playful smirk as she gave his hand a squeeze. "All part of growing up, I guess."

She felt Takato squeeze her back and she relaxed a little.

"Got it all out of your system now?" she asked, her smirk becoming a little more genuine.

"No, not really," Takato admitted with a sigh. "But I'd rather not make things even worse. I just wish I could get you to understand. I don't like the idea of hurting you. Ever."

"I don't like seeing you get hurt either," Rika replied sympathetically. "Guess we're going to have to work that out. But that's how these things tend to go, right? Love takes work."

"My parents said something like that too," Takato said with a nod. "Sure wish it was easier."

"If you wanted easy, you shouldn't have been born as you, you gogglehead," Rika grinned. Takato, in spite of himself, laughed.

"You're crazy."

"I think we established that when I asked you out on a date after catching you with your pants down." Leaning forward, Rika caught Takato's lips with her own, briefly, just to catch him off guard. They remained there afterward, just sharing each other's presence as they held one another.

"You know," Rika began after a moment, "you're something else when you get a little bit frustrated." Her grin grew. "I kind of like it."

Takato looked at her with a little trepidation. Flashes of Megidramon aside, he couldn't see what there was to like about his being angry about anything.

"I'm not exactly 'cute' though when I'm like that," he said, trying to keep a more upbeat tone so as to not ruin what reconciliation they had found.

"I didn't say cute," Rika said. "Just that I liked it. It feels like you're willing to go to bat for something you believe in. I guess that's more what I like about it. About you. You're a fighter when you're not holding yourself back."

Takato pursed his lips together. She could see in his eyes that he wasn't entirely convinced by her argument. She could easily guess why. Takato held few illusions about himself, which was one of the things she liked about him. Oh, he could shoot his mouth off and get cocky as much as anyone, but experience had given him an understanding of his limitations that many people his age often missed, herself included. Yet, at the same time, this gave him a different kind of blind spot that caused him to miss the important things that others saw in him.

"Rika," he began after a moment. "How can you just do that?"

"Do what? Tell you how I'm stupidly in love with you?" Rika smirked challengingly at him, tightening her hold about his fingers.

"Just forgive me like that. I mean, I know it was an accident, but…" He shook his head, trailing off. Reaching up, Rika pinched his cheek.

"Ow!" he exclaimed. "Hey!"

"That's what you get for trying to get me to repeat myself. No more of that today, got it?"

Takato took hold of her hand, still tugging at his cheek, and gave it a soft squeeze.

"Okay," he said. "But I want you to promise me that if I ever…"

"Oh, for goodness sake."

Determined to put this situation behind them and to shut him up, Rika again caught his lips with her own, catching him by surprise. It was at that moment that she felt the first drops of rain beginning to sprinkle down on them and she drew back, glaring up at the dark cloud passing overhead. It looked swollen and heavy with water itching to come down to the earth.

"Um… Maybe we should go inside," Takato suggested as the droplets began to come down even harder. Rika's glare dropped back down to him, but she relented.

"Fine," she grumbled, starting toward the house, half-dragging the startled boy after her. "Stupid storm interrupting things. If I could teach it a thing or two…"

Rika found herself abruptly cut off as she was whirled about. Takato's lips pressed against hers for the briefest of moments and her eyes went wide.

"W-W-Wha…?" she stammered out, completely taken aback by his sudden boldness. Takato gave a light chuckle as the rain began to fall on them even harder. He scratched the top of his dampening hair, grinning awkwardly.

"Just…trying to make you happy?" he offered. "I saw it on a movie once and thought I'd give it a try."

Rika blinked as a big raindrop splattered atop an eyebrow. She tightened her hold on his hand.

"You're supposed to wait until we get inside first, you goofy little gogglehead!" she scolded.

"Uh, little? Aren't I taller than you?"

Growling, Rika dragged the hapless boy into her home just in time as a crack of heavy thunder boomed and the downpour came crashing down.

"Stupid…" she muttered, sliding the door shut. Turning away from the storm outside, she moved her attention to the storm inside. Although Takato appeared more at ease, she could still see his uncertainty.

Rika found herself becoming all too aware that the two of them were alone in the house. A house that was dark from all the lights being off and a storm pounding outside. A storm that hadn't been listed on the weather so far as either of them knew.

"That, uh, sure is something else out there, huh?" Takato began, trying to break the uneasy silence that lay between them and in the house.

"Yeah," Rika said, sliding off her shoes. Approaching the boy, she looked at him expectantly. Seeing this, Takato cocked an eyebrow.

"Um, what…?"

Rika made a huffing sound. "Nothing," she said, glancing away. "I just thought you were going to kiss me right this time instead of doing it outside in the rain like a gogglehead."

"Oh! O-Oh!" He paused. "Are you sure?"

Rika glared at him and thunder growled outside. Takato nodded.

"Right. Dumb question. I just…"

"Maybe you should just stop talking," Rika said. Turning away, she stepped up out of the main entrance and into the house proper.

"Hey!" Takato hurriedly kicked off his shoes and followed after her. "Rika…"

"What?" Rika clicked on a light, dismissing the shadows. "If you're not comfortable kissing me anymore because of our stupid digivices, maybe you shouldn't even bother trying in the first place."

"I'm not uncomfortable with kissing you!" Takato growled, starting to become irritated. Moving quickly, he stepped in front of her, causing her to draw up short. Rika glared at him, her heart hammering in her chest. Worried. She was actually worried! She couldn't put her finger on the why, but she was nervous all the same. Did what happen last night mean that much?

A Tamer never walks away from danger, she told herself. With an effort, her lips drew up into a challenging smirk.

"Prove it," she said.

She watched as his face scrunched up in confusion, wondering what her angle was in all this before he apparently decided to throw caution to the wind. Taking a step closer, he leaned forward and, far more gently than she expected, pressed his lips against hers. His touch was feather light at first before becoming firmer. In a fit of impatience, she moved against him, deepening the kiss before he could draw back. She could feel his hesitation as he returned her kiss and wrapped his arms about her. He was plainly uncertain what was allowed. Knowing he would need it 'spelled out' for him after recent events, her free hand traced along the length of his back before finally coming to rest at the hem of his pants. Slowly, with great care, Takato's hands did likewise, stopping just above her jeans and going no further. She wondered if she should tell him to go further down, but soon dismissed it, her heart giving an unsettlingly frightened slam in her chest at the thought. It was, perhaps, too early for both of them, given their current frame of mind.

A Tamer doesn't walk away from danger, a part of her said. She hmphed against Takato's kiss and drew back.

"D-Did, did I do something wrong?" the boy asked, sensing the change in her mood. Shakily, Rika offered him a smile and shook her head.

"No. Just thinking things I probably shouldn't."

Takato cocked an eyebrow, but didn't press her on that. Instead, he drew her back to him, bringing her face to rest against the crook of his shoulder. Once more, he folded his arms about her and she took a deep breath, taking in his scent as he began to subtly rock her against him. It was oddly comforting, and she closed her eyes, losing herself to the motions. Her nerves settling, she began to relax and after a few minutes she began to softly hum.

"Pretty…" she heard Takato say, causing her humming to halt.

"What?"

"Just…" Takato fumbled for the right words. "Just you. The way you talk. The way you sing. Everything. It's…" One hand reached up and gently stroked her hair. "…beautiful."

Thunder again, but quieter. Not distant. Still on top of them, but softer. As though it were running out of steam. Even the sound of rain was starting to slacken.

"I thought you said 'pretty.' You kissing up to me now?"

"H-Hey!" She felt Takato tense up in her arms. "Rika! You know I wouldn't do that!"

"I know." Smirking, she kissed his cheek. "I just like messing with you sometimes. You're cute like that."

"Um… Thanks?"

"No problem." Rika began to hum again, pleased now that they were starting to put this behind them. Shibumi would correct their digivices and then things could go back to normal. Or at least as 'normal' as things could get for them.

###

I don't deserve her, Takato thought, still holding Rika to him. He could feel the tension in her back muscles steadily loosening, but he knew it would remain, and likely stay there for some time. However much of an accident things had been last night, it didn't change the fact that it happened and it affected them both greatly. Rika more so than she was willing to admit. He could feel it in the way she had kissed him. The way she held him. She was fighting something and trying to push through it. He wanted to help, but how could he when he had been the cause of her newest struggle?

That's that Matsuki luck, he thought quietly to himself. Well, more like goggleheaded luck anyway. My dad was pretty lucky. But somehow, I find a way to mess things up with the people I care about.

He tightened his grip around Rika and felt her respond in kind. He wanted to apologize again, but he knew she wouldn't be happy about that. He was at a loss for what else to do though. What could he do? What would Rika trust?

Or maybe he was overthinking things? At moments like this, Takato couldn't even trust his own thoughts. He needed some time to put things in perspective. To come back down to Earth.

Yet, the dream haunted him.

What happens if Shibumi can't stop it from happening again?

The storm thundered again outside, its strength gaining force once more.

7